List of Penguin titles on back cover goes up to number 70, Some experiences of a New Guinea resident magistrate (2)

Right from the time he was sentenced to the infernal Hell of Eton, Shelley had a terrible and tragic life. Until I read this, I never knew how awful it was. His headstrong youthful philosophy caused him trouble at every turn. There's little in Maurois' portrait that discusses poetry or philosophy, and the contribution of Mary Shelley. Lord Byron, about whom I know nothing, and who featured in the Shelley saga, is a chilling and "Compleat Bastard" in my estimation.

Facsimile edition of 1935 Penguin edition published to mark Penguin's 50th anniversary

Until I actually read Ariel, I found it hard to believe that the found of Penguin Books chose this book to begin his series of something to read on the train. I had never heard of Maurois. (Then came across him as going to the premier of Abel Gance's Napoleon with Charles de Gaulle, I believe.) And I got the wrong book at first - his life of Byron, not Shelley. (That was very good - perfect train reading.)

This won't be what you expect of a biography published in the 1920s. Shelley and family were the original feckless flower children, or the upper class British version. You'd never know that Shelley got anything done. And there is a mention only in passing of Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. (Everybody had a go at a novel one weekend. Never mentioned again.)

Surprisingly satisfying read.

Although Shelley is one of the most famous romantic poets of all time he is treated like a wandering philosopher fixated on Virtue in Maurois's biography. While the Maurois version doesn't make it obvious Shelley is a womanizer and has a curious attitude towards the women in his life. For example, Miss Hitchener. When Shelley first meets her he called her his soul's sister. He convinces her to live with him and his his new wife, Harriet, but then starts to refer to her as the Brown Devil and can't wait to be rid of her. Even his best friend Hogg is confused by his change of heart. Shelley does this often, including the women he marries. Aside from his relationships Shelley spends most of his time honing his personal attitudes towards politics and society.
Maurois doesn't write his biography in the traditional sense. Reading Eleanor Roosevelt's biography side by side with Percy Shelley was an eye opening experience. The need to cross reference and index everything doesn't exist with Maurois. ( )